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Midfielder Mathieu Valbuena is concerned that Marseille's poor home form will see them come unstuck against Ajax in the UEFA Cup last 16 on Thursday.

L'OM have only won two out of their last seven matches at Stade Velodrome, a run that includes a disappointing goalless draw with Valenciennes at the weekend.

They qualified for the last 16 on penalties after a last-gasp winner at Twente gave them an aggregate draw, and Valbuena does not want to go the distance in the Netherlands a second time.

"The match against Ajax is going to be tough," the 24-year-old playmaker conceded. "We have to throw ourselves straight back into another tournament just after the last match and we have to start well if we are to win and gain some breathing space for the second leg.

"We have to forget about the last game and use this to give ourselves a boost."

Marseille are third in Ligue 1, four points behind leaders Lyon, but a better home record would have seen them top the standings.

"It's frustrating and disappointing to keep failing at home," he added.

"We seem to smile on our travels but not in front of our own fans. I wouldn't say that we have a 'complex', but we can't score and I don't know why.

"Maybe we lack confidence at home, and opposing teams come here to defend. We saw this with Valenciennes. They know that we have a dangerous frontline and they sit back and counter."

Marseille have not scored at the Veledrome for a month, and Valbuena accepts the supporters' concerns although he wants them to get behind the team as they challenge both for domestic and European honours.

"It's totally understandable that the fans will be annoyed at not seeing us score, he continued.

"I hope that we don't carry this reputation towards the end of the season. We need them to be a 12th man.

"They have the right to be unhappy because there are matches we should have won. We all understand this, but we need their help."

Reda Maher / Eurosport